IBM's got just the handy little utility for you: Desktop On-Call. And you can download it NOW!
Desktop On-Call can be installed on OS/2 Warp, Warp Server, WorkSpace On-Demand Manager, or Windows PCs. Then, using any Java-enabled web browser, simply "point" to your PC, type in your ID and password (for security), then go ahead and control the desktop. Copy a file from your PC to your web client if you like. It's the next best thing to being there!
Desktop On-Call offers some great benefits:
- access your office system from home;
- manage your servers securely through a dial-up connection;
- help users remotely from any web client on the network;
- "run" OS/2 Warp applications on Windows systems or vice-versa.
Download Desktop On-Call now by visiting IBM Direct at http://www.direct.ibm.com/. Search for "Desktop On-Call" (it's IBM part number 31L2729). The cost is only US $39.95 retail. You won't have long to wait -- the download is only about 2 MB. What a great value!
FOLLOW-UP (note recieved pursuant to the above announcement)
Desktop On-Call seems to be generating quite a bit of excitement, but some of you have reported problems downloading the correct version from IBM Direct.
When you visit IBM Direct (www.direct.ibm.com) and search on "Desktop On-Call" you should find the Desktop On-Call order page. Currently the order process is "hard wired" to download the Windows (Win32) version. So you can control a Windows PC from a Java-enabled web browser running on any platform (including OS/2 Warp).
However, many of you are also asking for the OS/2 Warp platform version (to control an OS/2 Warp PC remotely). Stay tuned for further information.
If you did download the wrong platform version, visit IBM Direct at www.direct.ibm.com and click on Customer Service. One of the options allows you to request a full refund, per the terms and conditions specified in the IBM Direct agreement.
Some of you have also asked about whether there's a trial version, in addition to the generous refund policies IBM Direct offers. While there is not currently an English trial version of Desktop On-Call, folks in Japan may wish to try the Japanese trial version. Japanese trial versions for either Win32 or OS/2 Warp can be downloaded from ftp://ftp.ibm.co.jp/pub/pspj/dtoc25/trial. (Desktop On-Call is developed in Japan and then translated into English.)
Sorry for the confusion! I hope we'll have it cleared up very soon.
May 6th update
As I mentioned in my last update, Desktop On-Call is produced by IBM Japan. IBM Japan translates the Japanese version into English, but sometimes that takes a bit of time.
Right now, Desktop On-Call Version 2.0 is available in the U.S. exclusively through "electronic software delivery" (ESD). That means you can order it and download it online, and (subject to the terms and conditions of your online dealer), get a refund if you erase it.
Version 2.0 is designed to install on Windows 95, 98, or NT. Then, using any Java-enabled web browser (including Netscape Communicator for OS/2 Warp), you can control that PC's desktop. It's a great way to manage remote servers, your office PC from home, etc.
To order Desktop On-Call Version 2.0, visit any of the following Internet sites:
http://www.direct.ibm.com/
http://www.beyond.com/PKSN101846/prod.htm
http://www.digitalriver.com/zones/desktop
Version 2.5 adds a version for OS/2 Warp, so you can control an OS/2 Warp desktop from your favorite Java-enabled web browser. That version is not yet available for sale in the U.S. Stay tuned for further information.
For those of you interested in the Japanese versions of Desktop On-Call, including evaluation versions, please visit http://www.ibm.co.jp/pspjinfo/javadesk.
By the way, IBM Japan also produces a great little web browser for DOS. In Japan it's called "Webboy," and in the U.S. it's called "Homepage Surfer for DOS." Yes, Homepage Surfer runs on IBM's "Year 2000 Ready" PC-DOS 2000, so you can put older hardware back into productive use on the Internet or your intranet. It works with both dial-up and LAN connections.
Stay tuned for further information on this remarkable software -- I'll pass along more information when I have it. But if you just can't wait (and if you can read Japanese), take a look at http://www.ibm.co.jp/pspjinfo/webboy.
Of course I'm happy to answer questions about these two new products if I can.
Builds Base for Secure, Universal Access
OS/2 Warp Server for e-business gives employees, customers, and partners universal access to information systems. The Journaled File System makes the server highly available and scalable. Java and LDAP toolkits enable the transition to network computing. The new product provides a solid foundation for e-business transformation.
See: http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/
Summary of Functions
A summary of functions in the new OS/2 Warp Server for e-business covers the Journaled File System, Logical Volume Manager, enhanced TCP/IP, base OS/2 function, and Java.
See: http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/summary/
Business Partner Videos
In three new videos, IBM Business Partners tell about the advances and advantages in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business. In another new video, an IBM manager covers OS/2 Warp Server for e-business services.
See: http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/products/aurora/videos/archive/
Third-Party Promotional Products
Celebrating the release of OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, seven vendors offer complementary products for desktop management, information navigation and search, maintenance and recovery of disk volumes, utilities, fax and voice, graphical presentation, and customized chat rooms.
See: http://www.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/promotions.html
Want to get a head start working with 100% Pure Java(TM) office productivity components?
Need spreadsheet, text processing, slide show, or other handy functions for your web pages?
Lotus has got some great Java technology just for you. Lotus eSuite DevPak Version 1.5 Preview for WorkSpace On-Demand is now available for download from http://esuite.lotus.com/.
To work with the eSuite DevPak Preview for WorkSpace you'll need the following software:
- WorkSpace On-Demand 2.0 (or OS/2 Warp 4) with FixPak 9 or higher;
- Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp;
- Java 1.1.7A (build level November 20, 1998) or higher;
- HPFS drive for installation (to support long filenames) with at least 62
MB free.
The following specifications are strongly recommended:
- Java 1.1.7A (February 18, 1999) or higher;
- 16-bit (64K color) display;
- 64 MB of RAM or more;
- 133 MHz Pentium(TM) processor or higher.
DevPak can be deployed from any standard web server, such as Lotus Domino. Java development tools (such as IBM VisualAge for Java 2.0) can also be used to enhance, extend, and integrate eSuite components.
WHERE TO FIND THE DOWNLOADS
1. Obtain and install FixPak 9 (or higher). Visit IBM Software Support at http://ps.software.ibm.com to obtain the latest WorkSpace On-Demand or OS/2 Warp 4 fixpack (e.g. Fixpack 10).
2. Obtain and install Netscape Communicator 4.04 for OS/2 Warp. Visit IBM Software Choice at http://www.software.ibm.com/swchoice to obtain the latest version.
3. Obtain and install the required version of the Java runtime. Visit IBM Software Choice (see Step 2) for the necessary download(s), then obtain the latest Java 1.1.7 service update from IBM at ftp://ftp.hursley.ibm.com/pub/java/fixes/os2/11/117.
4. Obtain and install Lotus eSuite DevPak Preview. Visit Lotus at http://esuite.lotus.com and click on "eSuite 1.5 for WSOD Preview."
